GUILDFORD’S fast food vans should offer a healthier alternative to burgers and kebabs, the town’s council has said.

Salad sandwiches and low fat yoghurts are among the suggestions made by Guildford Borough Council to sit on menus alongside burgers, chips and kebabs.

The healthy options were outlined in a review of the borough’s policy for street traders and reported by the Surrey Advertiser last week.

Grant Harris, who runs the Skip’s Catering van from a lay-by just off the A281, was unimpressed with the recommendations.

“Our customers are mainly scaffolders, builders and lorry drivers and they are not going to want this sort of food,” he said.

“Some of it [sandwiches and jacket potatoes] are more suited to sandwich bars. It seems to be going over-the-top with political correctness.”

The council’s head of environmental health and licensing, Clifford Bell, said: "It remains for the trader to design his menu around the principles of healthier catering, such as grilling rather than frying."

Other recommended dishes include chilli con carne made with lean mince and plain currant buns.

The guidelines have caused a stir across the country and provoked national headlines such as “Burger off” and "The greaseless spoon".

A council statement said the advice had been provided since the early 1990s and the authority did not wish to "restrict traders or people’s personal choice on food".

“The advice is very much in line with increased national interest in healthy food,” the statement said.

“If people want to eat a bacon sandwich or have mayonnaise on their salad, we are certainly not going to stop them - we just want them to have the choice.

“Traders are assessed on a number of conditions and no-one has or would be closed down or refused a licence because they had not complied with guidance on providing healthy options.”